2011 News

Australian Championship: Final Report

Farr 30 Australian ChampionshipFarr 30 Australian ChampionshipGOA/NOVA 106.9 reigns supremeRoyal Queensland Yacht Squadron1-3 April 2011The Farr 30 Australian Championship, hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, is over for another year with the title finally handed to Chris Tyquin and his GOA/NOVA 106.9 crew after and intense battle with local rival Synergy. Fresh from also winning the Farr 30 Queensland Championship, Tyquin felt on top of the world.

"After four years of near misses we have finally taken home the top prize," said Tyquin this morning. "I've finally recovered from the racing, slightly bruised, but incredibly happy to have the Farr 30 Australian Championship perpetual trophy hanging on the wall."

"Championships like these are not won just by steering the boat. You need a solid team in front of you which we are very lucky to have," said Tyquin.Tyquin sailed with a highly regarded crew which included Australian Sailing Team Technical Coordinator and current Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race winner (Secret Men's Business 3.5), Michael Dunstan.

Dunstan was equally happy with the result saying that the highlight was the back and forth with Synergy.

"Eveyone really stepped it up for the Australian Championship especially the Synergy crew. It was great close racing and they pushed us all the way. It was a brilliant to be sailing with Chris (Tyquin) and his mates and we're proud of what we achieved," said Dunstan.

Alex Douglas, owner and skipper of Synergy was leading GOA going into the last day of racing. The withdrawal of GOA in race eight after an "incident" may have started the Synergy crew thinking they had the title, but a strong fight back from GOA sealed the deal for the 2011 regatta.

The Synergy crew included two time Farr 30 World Champion Darren Jones who offered one of the best prizes of the regatta. For the first time the Farr 30 Australian Corinthian Championship was awarded with Jon Drummond owner and skipper of the Gladstone based boat Loco securing that championship. The prize on offer, which was only announced at the presentation, was a day's coaching with Jones.

"We are so honoured to have received this great prize," said Drummond. "We sail with our mates, we are all amateurs, so any professional help we can get is fantastic!"

The Corinthian Championship will be awarded for all Australian Championship regattas moving forward and will go to the winning boat with a full armature crew.

One point separated first and second and that one point was also the deciding factor for third and fourth. It was Italian Job skippered by Lew Perrin that crept into the third position after holding off Loco. Perrin was thrilled with his crews result after starting the regatta a little off pace.

The media frenzy surrounding the arrival of the Townsville based Farr 30 Guilty Pleasures III didn't put these enthusiastic sailors off their game. A Channel 7 helicopter news crew captured the boat "sailing" down a flood infused highway with the keel and bulb creating a decent sized wave break along the way. The footage made its way into a Channel 7 promotional commercial and the image of them battling the elements before racing even began went viral on the internet.

"We have had a tough time getting here but it was fun," said skipper Leon Thomas. "We had a great regatta and are really looking forward to racing against these Farr 30's again in the future."

Colin Loel, skipper of Asterix and considered to be the grand Daddy of the local Farr 30 class was congratulated for all the work he put into organising a great Australian Championship. Whilst his result was not what he had hoped for, Loel did say that it was one of the best regattas he had competed in.

RBS Morgans Immigrant skippered by the colourful Jeffrey Paul certainly did provide a lot of entertainment throughout the regatta.

"We always have a great time regardless of what happens!" laughed Jeffrey. "Just being a part of it is what matters. We will be back for the next regatta and the next one after that because it's all about being involved and a part of the action."

The Farr 30's will rack up again in the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race and then the Queensland IRC Championship on the 28-29 May at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

Dunstan was equally happy with the result saying that the highlight was the back and forth with Synergy.

"Eveyone really stepped it up for the Australian Championship especially the Synergy crew. It was great close racing and they pushed us all the way. It was a brilliant to be sailing with Chris (Tyquin) and his mates and we're proud of what we achieved," said Dunstan.

Alex Douglas, owner and skipper of Synergy was leading GOA going into the last day of racing. The withdrawal of GOA in race eight after an "incident" may have started the Synergy crew thinking they had the title, but a strong fight back from GOAsealed the deal for the 2011 regatta.

The Synergy crew included two time Farr 30 World Champion Darren Jones who offered one of the best prizes of the regatta. For the first time the Farr 30 Australian Corinthian Championship was awarded with Jon Drummond owner and skipper of the Gladstone based boat Loco securing that championship. The prize on offer, which was only announced at the presentation, was a day's coaching with Jones.

"We are so honoured to have received this great prize," said Drummond. "We sail with our mates, we are all amateurs, so any professional help we can get is fantastic!"

The Corinthian Championship will be awarded for all Australian Championship regattas moving forward and will go to the winning boat with a full armature crew.

One point separated first and second and that one point was also the deciding factor for third and fourth. It was Italian Job skippered by Lew Perrin that crept into the third position after holding off Loco. Perrin was thrilled with his crews result after starting the regatta a little off pace.

The media frenzy surrounding the arrival of the Townsville based Farr 30 Guilty Pleasures III didn't put these enthusiastic sailors off their game. A Channel 7 helicopter news crew captured the boat "sailing" down a flood infused highway with the keel and bulb creating a decent sized wave break along the way. The footage made its way into a Channel 7 promotional commercial and the image of them battling the elements before racing even began went viral on the internet.

"We have had a tough time getting here but it was fun," said skipper Leon Thomas. "We had a great regatta and are really looking forward to racing against these Farr 30's again in the future."

Colin Loel, skipper of Asterix and considered to be the grand Daddy of the local Farr 30 class was congratulated for all the work he put into organising a great Australian Championship. Whilst his result was not what he had hoped for, Loel did say that it was one of the best regattas he had competed in.

RBS Morgans Immigrant skippered by the colourful Jeffrey Paul certainly did provide a lot of entertainment throughout the regatta.

"We always have a great time regardless of what happens!" laughed Jeffrey. "Just being a part of it is what matters. We will be back for the next regatta and the next one after that because it's all about being involved and a part of the action."

The Farr 30's will rack up again in the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race and then the Queensland IRC Championship on the 28-29 May at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.